The eighth grader, sponsored by the San Antonio Express-News, represented the area in the competition in National Harbor, Md.

Like all contestants, Sangisetti completed a 25-word written test during round one and two verbal rounds. Though he correctly spelled “alcazar” and “deleterious” in the verbal rounds, he did not spell enough words on the written test correctly to progress to the semifinals.

Sukanya Roy, a student from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., took home the spelling bee’s trophy Thursday by correctly spelling the final word, “cymotrichous.”

Sangisetti said he had been training for spelling bees since first grade and that his mother often quizzed him on words for three hours a night while he was doing homework or playing video games. He hopes to be a brain surgeon someday and will attend Northside’s Health Careers High School.

Though this year was the first time Sangisetti made it to the Scripps national bee, he said he learned to remain calm should he have to spell on-camera after a previous experience.

“Last time I was on stage like that and it was televised, I completely screwed up so I knew I needed to calm down this time,” said Sangisetti, who, ironically, misspelled the word “accurate” during a competition two years ago.

Sangisetti said he’s done with spelling after this bee, but his competitive streak will live on in his sport of choice, swimming.

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” said Sangisetti of giving up spelling competitions, “because I’m kind of tired from spending so much time on it. But it’s kind of fun when you win a lot.”